Remarks on a Potential Ceasefire Deal

[NerdWhoEatsMedlar]

President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Middle East

There is a potential ceasefire on the table.
Here's hope for more negotiations and a day after plan.

I was just reading up on this too.
It seems like he had some harsh words for both sides. And that his appeal is directed more towards the general public to put pressure on the leaders to accept the deal.

Also interesting that he mentioned he knows that there are ministers in the Israeli government who want to occupy Gaza.

“I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the governing coalition. They’ve made it clear that they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them.”
“Well, I’ve urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.”

It's a three phase deal that both sides are being urged to accept. This seems to be the gist of it. If I have summarised any of it incorrectly then please do correct me.

PHASE 1- will last for 6 weeks which will include a full ceasefire and withdrawal of IDF from populated areas of Gaza. The release of hostages including women, elderly, vulnerable, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians can return to their homes (not that most have homes to return to) and aid will Increase to 600 trucks a day

PHASE 2- the remaining hostages will be released including male soldiers and the IDF will continue to retreat from Gaza.

PHASE 3- Reconstruction plan for Gaza will start and the remains of hostages who have been killed will be returned.

I thought there were some very interesting choices of language.

Not sure there will much reliable extra information until Monday. Certainly not until tomorrow night.

Did he mention anything about who will govern Gaza?

Or who he thinks should?

That's a fair summary Parking.

Remember you can call up the transcript on Youtube.

Trump, after election season?

I really hope people agree to a deal. Reading the report on what Netanyahu's aide said about hostages was really concerning.

Obama has even mentioned Settlers.

Barack Obama@BarackObama
Today, President Biden put forward a clear, realistic and just plan to establish an immediate ceasefire and end the war in Gaza - a plan that ensures Israel’s security, returns hostages taken on October 7th to their families, increases aid into Gaza and relieves the suffering of Palestinian civilians, and engages Israelis, Palestinians, Arab countries and the broader international community in the process of rebuilding Gaza.

A ceasefire alone won’t ease the terrible pain of Israelis whose loved ones were butchered or abducted by Hamas, or the Palestinians whose families have been shattered by the subsequent war. It won’t resolve the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, or answer contentious issues surrounding a two-state solution or continuing settler activity in the West Bank. But what it can do is put a stop to the ongoing bloodshed, help families reunite and allow a surge of humanitarian aid to help desperate, hungry people. It can save lives, here and now - and it can lay the foundation for what will be a long and difficult road to a future in which Israel is secure and at peace with its neighbors, and Palestinians finally have the security, freedom and self-determination that they have sought for so long.

As the tragedy in Gaza has unfolded over the past eight months, we’ve witnessed an often fierce public debate here at home - and around the world - regarding how the United States should respond. But no matter where each of us stand in these broader debates, an enduring ceasefire is something we should all support - for the sake of Israelis, Palestinians and the world at large. I am deeply encouraged by the steady, tireless efforts of President Biden, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and our diplomatic team to bring this awful war to an end.
9:01 PM · May 31, 2024

Surely Netanyahu won’t agree to this, it all sounds too reasonable. I’m confused, who has a actually agreed to this, and does this mean The US is finally putting pressure on Israel to stop what it’s doing? Biden is obviously thinking about the election although I don’t think he’s with it anymore.

We'll find out with time headstone.
This deal has to be the best bet for the hostages. Goodness knows how few are left after the last couple of weeks. I hope the hostage's families feel at least a little heard now.

Apparently it’s pretty much the same as the Egyptian plan , however obviously more significant if it’s ‘Biden’s’ plan.

@headstone I don't actually know who has put it together, my first thoughts went to the mediatiors; Qatar, Egypt and the US.
One point of contention also is that initially its a temporary ceasefire. One that if it progresses to the additional phases, only then it has the possibility of becoming permanent.

Sorry just re-read it and it's being reported that this is the offer that Israel has proposed to Hamas.

Even more significantly it is Israels plan.

Israel has now offered, Israel has offered, comprehensive new proposal. Its a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire – and the release of all hostages.

It sounds rather like the Egypt plan. Can you imagine having to negotiate with Netanyahu?

It is a temporary ceasefire with the agreement it is extended as long as both parties are negotiating in good faith. That’s how I interpreted it anyway. From the Guardian.

‘Over the course of the first phase’s six-week ceasefire, Israel and Hamas would negotiate a second phase, aimed at a permanent end to hostilities. If the parties did not reach an agreement in the six weeks, the ceasefire would extend as long as they stayed at the negotiations, brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt.’

Please please let the details of this plan be reasonable and let it be accepted by Hamas. There has been too much suffering already.

Praying that this works out 🙏🙏🙏

Israel has to get the settlers off Palestinian land, and I say this as a Jew. They seem to be a huge blocker on getting any kind of positive outcome - unfortunately with settlers like Smotrich at the centre of government, this isn't likely to happen.

There seems to be some sort of response from Hamas leaders that they view Biden's proposal as positive

This is from the times of Israel
The movement affirms its position of readiness to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to all their places of residence, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal if the occupation declares its explicit commitment to that,” the Hamas statement says.

I am so scared for the people of Gaza and how their minds and bodies will cope when the fighting ends and the full reality of what has happened begins to creep in.

I desperately want this all to be happening in good faith but this seems to be the same deal that Hamas agreed to weeks ago and Israel turned down, which doesn’t really make sense. Also, if Biden wanted a permanent ceasefire he could just stop giving the IDF all the weapons.

As I say, I am praying this is true but it just seems like there must be more to it.

They are traumatised and have been living in hyper vigilance mode for months the realisation will be awful and added to that they've nothing left, no homes, schools, jobs, universities, shops, playgrounds nothing. I hope aid agencies can start getting in and minding and nurturing these traumatised broken people.

BBC News seemed to be suggesting that this is a US proposal (perhaps with some UK input) rather than an Israeli proposal which is a little how it's being presented, it wasn't 100% clear that the Israelis were actually on board...

What a nightmare this whole situation is, absolutely horrific, surely something more positive has to happen soon, there's virtually no Gaza left.